Gauge



S zw

P m m.

Feb 28, 1928 'Patented Feb. f2s, 192s.

UNIT

' reactie Y LAWRENCE ivi. PERSONS, or" CHICAGO, iiLLiNors, AssIGNoR To Coon ELECTRICv coil/r#Y PANY, or cr'iicaeo, imiino'is,

A CORPORATION or` ILLINOIS.

' GAUGE."

Application ined'iuiy 1 3, 1925. seriai'No. 4ao`a3. f

My invention relates toa measuring device kand it has special reference'to a pressure measuring apparatus thatis particular-4 ly adapted to ascertain the contents of a container'or receptacle to which it may be attached. Y a

More particularly'my invention relates to a measuring device whereby even relatively small hydrostatic pressures Vresulting either from a fluid or vfluid determined. l

Themeasuring device of my invention is a radicaldeparture from the ordinary type of measuring device indicating hydrostatic pressures in that it is exceedingly simple and durable, as well as accurate andk very reliable. Devices ofthe prior art, wh1le somewhat efficient and satisfactory'in many cases, were' found too expensive to be practical and commercially successful. Manufacturers will` notentertain-their marketing if the 4costA is excessive. Those who employ vthese devices, say on gasoline tanksof automobiles,

and other liquidV containers, such as fuelf oil tanks of oil burning systems, will not adopt f themas standard equipment if the selling price too higlr. Usually, delicate pressure actuated lmembers have beenl heretofore employed in connection with fluid Vcmtained chambers, the wallsof which,i were movable. These parts vin their intricate association with one another are subject totemperature-v changes, anddue to their movably .operated relation. are apt to be4 easily deranged.

An objectl of my invention' is to produce a hydrostatic pressure measuring device which will eliminate the deficiencies of prior devices, including'those above referredto,

and at the same timefto provide means of*v exceeding simplicity which is certainv andv eflicient in operation, and devoid of delicate mechanism whichisjaptpto require constant attention and frequent repair. f

In carrying outmy invention, I' employ means for trapping a body of airl'in a liquid container in a manner which exposes it, to Contact with the liquid so as to be exceedingly sensitive to pressure. Ir prefer tope'rmit the pressure head or-hydrostatic head ofthe body of liquid toact upon this trapped body of air andto transmit the exertedlpressure to ai conveniently located findica-ting device or gauge, vwhich provides readings in terms. of the quantity offluid in the container. 1

changea-bility.

body may be accurately submerged in the liquid Another aim ofmy invention is toprovide measuring -orv indicating"` device of the` above character which is economical to many-` ufacture and embodies an unusually .simple v cated so as to 'readily -provide for 'inter-f* y A further-object in thecOnStruction of a measuring 1 device which is effective to trap withiny thel tank afpressure actuating medium .without requiring the use Vof ,fastening-elements` that) have .to beriveted,;f'or Yholes that must-be n drilled especially'in thetanln'fin order-to adapt the device thereto.

tank'by merely lowering. it to-thebottom thereof. n i More particularly my invention is directed of my invention resides Y .n `This device mayv` be quickly applied-,tothe interior of the Athrough )an adapterl opening in thev topv e 'i to an'improved construction,which is effec-I tive infpermanentlyl retaining the air or pres-5 surey actuating medium thus' trapped', andv which com-prises'. a column of air or the` like withinv atube, 'the latter extending from ther the pressure transmitting devicevin' a manner effectively` preventing theescape 'of lair held therein. yHence, this .eliminates lthe ,ne-.-v

gauge; to 1 the pressure 'transmitting *deviceV and connecting to cessity of air-pumps, which havfeheretofoi'e an-apparatus which.' correctly indicates the contents of the tank without the employment air leaking.

jjbeen used. to replenish'the air,and assures-l OtherV kobjects and advantagesyof my invention will bev apparent from the following description lwhen taken in connection lwith the accompanying drawing lwhich Yforms al part hereof.- v i In the drawings:l

receptacle'orcontainer, such-as` a* fuel oil Figure l/is ay diagrammatic View of afl' V lOl tank o-fan oil'fburning sy's`ten'1,'-l Showing myv improved 1 pressure ,measuring devicel at-f tached thereto for determiningthe fluid con-Y tents of the tank;

Fig. 21s a perspectiveview ofthat por'- v tion ofthe pressuremeasuring device which is locatedwithin the tank,V and Fig. f3 is af viewl showing the internal i mechanismof a standard pressure actuated gauge kelement that may serve as the indicat-l ing'instrument for my pressure device. Y

Referring tothe drawings, I have shown an exceedingly simple device Vfor indicating the'fhydrostatic pressuresof a".l tank adapted Yfor use in varioussystemswhere itis desirable to indicate exteriorly the fluid. contents of the tank.

In Fig. 1, I have showna tank `1 which contains a body of liquid 2 that it is desired to measure, they ainountjof the liquid in the tank being indica-tedbyz anin-- dicator 3 cooperating with---a' suitable 'brat-ed scale vlcomprised inY an indicatinginstrument 5. The indicatingl instrument 5y may be Iremoteffrom the tankfl. For theV calisake'l of Villustration fin vthe present disclosure, I have embodied my invent1on:in a,tank employed particularly in oil burning ksystems,` wherein-it is usually required to b ulry' the tank infthe 'ground outside; offthe;build-'l ing, The depthoffthe tank below the lsurface! of the groundV depends,of course,; on

thei extent to whiclrthe ground; freezes vdur-l of .the building,

-. strument. .v

i offany desired cross sectional area..` Adapter 85 suitablyarrangedfto seat within an opening furnished in thetop oftank 1.: yA pres-` sure' transmitting :device yis .disposed in the I preferably lprovide apluralityof 'at variouslpoints about the lower edge` of Connector 8 Amay be a hollow copper tube eap-fis threaded2 into ajclosure membert)v bottom ol tank 1. Yrlhisfpress'ure transmit ting device, in the. presi-mtrY disclosure,.k comprises; a bell shapedf'member 11 having a...

downwardly extendingexterior wall 12 'to provide anairvchamber 13 within the bell 11. feet 1111 n this wall y12, which looselyqseat uponthe inf y vterior lof'tankf1.- Inforder, for thecopp'er tubing 8 to communicate Withthe air chain- 'ber 13, arcentrally disposed apertured lug 15 is formed `on .bellyllt Ilhrou'glr` the apierture ofitheV lug; .15 thel copper tubing 8 "may be passech ,After the tubing has been pulled* through the proper distance, the flower end thereof may be bent, as shown in `Fig. 1, in.`

an upward direction, so that: theopenfend thereof will alwaysybe-inl communication with air; confinedwithinchambers13. A

suitable paekingnrut 16 -holds tubing' 8 in zontally positioned.

fixed relation to bell 11. Packing nut 16y is also centrally@ apertured andY threads into. a

suitable tap provided in the topiof'bell 11.

i f Referringtol Fig.VA 3, the indicating nine.

strumentk is -shown-as. comprising a casing 17, 1n which an expansiblepressure: actuated .I

on Bourdon y elementf18 housed: The

,receptacleor.

1 tohold thev tubing 8 inItight-relationwithV 1 adapter y7. y The tubing is first threaded?-onf` pressure actuated element 18 communicates at its lower end Withlftheconnector 8' 'and variationsin the f` pressures transmittedk to i the element 18 lthrough the connector 8 cause it to expand and contract in afmanner' to 70V swing a rotatable arm"`19,whiclrin'turn acl tuates the indicator '3, which'is attached to a rotatably mounted shaft 20. Shaft 2O is eontrolled by coil torsion spring 21. Sincev the pressure gauge illustrated in Fig. 3 is ofV a well kno-wn type of construction, further explanation. thereof Ais.` not; necessary;` It is apparent, ofv course, that' otherforms =of pressure indicating instruments may' be used@ instead of thetype descri'bedand illustratedfio herein. u i l L 'When it is desired to mount the device embodying 'my invention ronza tank, provision'is first made to vaccornmodatei'the -adapter ring,v 9 carrying.: theV adapter cap 7.85 Adaptercap 7 is preferablyfurnishedawithf an opening 22 through which thefeonneetor:V Ortnbing passes.: Apacl-ingnutfQtf'serves Y tlie yadapterby means ofthe paeking-nutgza" sufficient amount 'of tubingr-beingtirst drawn 1 throughzthe opening 22 totperinitibellilfto be lowered to thebottomfof tank@ `1.7. Aftei'ii'- i tubing 8 is threaded throughuadapter Tin-"953 the. mannerV just described, the end of tubingu'1 8, as awpractical inatter, vshould'be cut' ottv solas to` allowra freeair ventY atdthisf'openi en'd.`- Itk isthen passed@itlirouglrfthe.aper' tured lugl onbell 11?.v The'endibf'tubing 210" 8 is drawn farenoughthroughithis lug 15`=i topermit it to be bentaU-shapedgso*aswtof' .'bringcthe open end near the topof thecha'inber 13. Tubing 8 isasuitablysecured Eto* the'AVV f erable to besure that: there is-noi slack tub'ii'igivv vbetween this bell andthe adapter? IVhen'H" lowering the bell, `it should be maiiit'zrinedfin avhorizontal positron, sothatfit 1nay='trapf1its full capaci-ty of airA in chambergl. {Dueto fits exteriorwalls V12, it is diflieultfto'loseithe.VK

bodyv ofl air in chamberflafter'- it; is "oncev U5 trapped therein. This'is truegnotwithstandr f ing the fact thattank. 1 mayv-be entirelv empty. In the event thatltankI *1 is'ientirelfyfy empty,l it will be readily observed` that@- duri ingtherelling of the tank aipocketof air 120 causethere is nofmeansV ofrescape forthe air through theftop of 'the-belli' wh-en hor-i# From thevl Aforegoing description Lit willfbef apparent; that with @the indieatingf'in'strus mentv 5 in lcommunieation .witlrfthfel airfcham- 'ber 13 by means-of ftheA conneetor; 8,'varia--* tions of hydrostatic pressure ofi; fini-'d may' f Vbe transmitted ythrouglitubingg 8 to Tg3-auge@ i130 i. 5. I wi-sh toipoint out that one side of thev body of Yair trappedfin chamber 13 is in open contact with theliquid 2. This brings the pressure transmitting medium (air) in theclosest possible relation with, the pressure to be measured. The pressure is exerted directly on this pressure indicating medium, and consequently, inaccuracies resulting in the effectivetransmission off pressure are reduced to a minimum. This dis-:

tinguishes the present device from p-rior art structures Where one or'more flexible plates are provided totransmit the exertedV pres-V sure of the liquid before it reaches the pres# sure transmitting medium. It will be seen.l

that the use of suchl pressurev plates will cause considerable trouble and result in indefinite readings at the gauge 5,l due to temperature changes and possible derangement of mechanical connections. j

The device shown herein is simple and efficient.

The readings taken by it have been found, to be extremely accurate, notwithstanding temperature changes and vibrations or jarring, to which a device ofv this character is usually subjected. It will be observed that no pivotal connections are provided between the gauge and the bell and that allmovable parts are eliminated in the'bell itself,

I further wish to pointv out that my device may be applied to any type of tank and that it is not necessary, preliminary to the mounting of this device, to change or alter the construction of the tank. The only connection to the tank is at the. opening 10 in the top of the tank. The pressure measuring device comprising the bell is preferably not mechanically connected to the tank, becauseit is desirable to reduce the cost of this device to a minimum. However, if it is deemed desirable, this vbell member 1l may be connected to the bottom of the tank. It is not necessary to replenish the air in chamber 13, because there is no possibility of it leaking therefrom. The lug 15 is preferably integral with bell 1l ,so as to eliminate a joint at this point. Connector 8V isv continuous from gauge 5, the connection therewith being soldered orotherwise suitably sealed at 24 to provide a iuid tight connection. From this point to the `air chamber, connector 8 is furnished as a single piece. It enters bell 11 and extends down and then up ina U-shaped bend into chamber 13. Lug l5 may project downwardly at least to the bottom of chamber 13. With 'this formation of the bell at the point where connector 8 enters, it is obvious that there is no possibility of air leaking from chamber 13. Packing nut 16 priinarilyserves to hold connector 8 fastened to the bell, while the integrally extended lug l5 Aeliminates the employment of va joint between vthe con? nector and bell. Hence, I consider the bend ofconnectorS of considerable importance.'

spirit and scope ofthe invention. I'claim: v Y

` l. In combination, va liquid container,

means forineasuring theliquid contents of said container,l said `means including a pressure transmitting device and 'a pressure indicating device, afeoniiector between said devices, f said pi'essure 'transmittingl device including a bell-like element having an openv bottom and aclosed top whereby'air maybe. trappedtherein when lowered in said co'ntainer, andr means onfsaid element .permit-a ting said connector to pass through said `top and into said air, said means comprising an interiorly downwardly projecting apertured lug through which said connector is extended and thereafter is bent Yupwardly into said air.

2. InV combination, a liquid container, Y I means for measuring the liquid contents of..

said container, said 'means including apressure transmitting-device having a pressure transmitting Vmedium subject to the pressure to be measured, a pressure indicating device,

and a connector between said devices, said connector extending downwardly into said container and communicating with the interior of said pressure transmitting device by an upwardly extending portion entering the pressure transmitting medium from .be-

low.

3. In combination, a liquid container, means for measuring the liquid contents ofsaid container, said means including a pressure transmitting device having pressure transmitting medium therein subject to the s pressure to be measured, a gauge, a connec# tion for said pressure transmitting medium between said device and said gauge, said connection comprising a tube having a U bend at the end thereof adapted to project into 'said pressure transmitting medium from the lower side of the chamber containing said medium. i

4. In combination, a liquid container, means yfor measuring the liquid contents of said container, said'nieans including a pressure transmitting devicehaving archamber therein for a pressure transmitting medium subjectV to the pressure to be measured, anindicating gauge, a tube lbetween said device and said gauge,jsaidpressure transmitting device being arranged to expose thelower end of said chamber to the liquid in said container,[and an apertured extension on said device leadingPk through the .chamber to the lower exposed end thereof, said tube passing through said apertured extension and liavinga U bend formed tlierein extending into the chamber v'for communication with said pressure transmitting medium.'v

5. In combination, a liquid container, ineens for measuring` the liquid contents of said containeig'sid means including a pressure transmitting. device'lieving a chamber therein for e pressure transmitting medium subject to the pressure to be measured, an indicating gauge, and a connector between said device and said gauge, said connector entering seid chamber from its lower end .Within said cont-einer.

ineensfor measuring the li ing'sziid .device :it itslower end,v said lower end Within; said Vcontainer ot the connector bong bent iipvf'nrdly to extend 'into said device. i I 1 i Y 7. lIn combinati-on, .u liquid container,V

id contents of said container, sei-'d means includingzik pres-V sure transmitting device adapted to trap a Y bodyeof eirthferein with the lower,,side of the body of Liii' exposed :to the pressure to be measured, an indicating gauge, andV econnector between said gauge and saidzdevice, said connector *entering sa-id yloody of air from said lower side exposed tothe pressure to be-'meznsured u' e u In Witness whereof, I lieve `hereunto sub-VVA scribed my naine. f e

LAWRENCEM. Pensons. 'i

GERTFCATE 0F GRRECTIGN. I

Patent No. 1,660,814* Granted February 28, i928, to

LAWRENCE M. PERSONS.

It is hereby certiiied that errer appears inV the printed speciiieation of the above numbered patent requiing Correetien as fellows: Page ai., tine 2l, claim 6, strike out the Words "Within said container" ansi insert the same after the word "out" and before the comma in line 2G; and that the said Letters Patent should be read with this .cerreetien therein that the same may conform te the record 0f the ease in the Patent Office.

Signed and sealed this 8th day oi May, A. D. 1928.

M. .L Moore, (Seal) Acting Commissioner of Patents.

CERTIFICATE 0F CORRECTIN.

Patent No. 1,660,814. Granted February 28, 1928, to

LAWRENCE M. PERSNS.

It is hereby certified that Certificate of Correction issued May 8, 1928, in the above numbered patent was erroneously drawn es to eieim 6, and bat this Certificate should have read as foilows: Page li, Eine 2l, claim 6, strike out the words "Within said container" and insert ibo same after the Word "end" and before the comme in line 20, tha tbe seid Cerifioate may conform to the records of the office.

Signed and sealed this 29th day of May, A. D. i928.

M. .L Moore, (Seal) Aofrizig Commissioner of Patents. 

